Yang Jong-hee, Chairman of KB Financial Group, New Year's Address
Opening Ceremony at Yeouido Headquarters New Building on the 2nd
Moment of Silence for Airplane Accident Victims and Bereaved Families
"In a Year Expected to Bring Chaos and Upheaval, We Will Deliver Trust and Stability to Customers and the Market"
Yang Jong-hee, Chairman of KB Financial Group, stated in the group's New Year's address on the 2nd, "Although this year is expected to be one of chaos and upheaval, KB will become a company that provides 'solid trust and stability' to offset the anxiety of customers and the market."
On the same day, the '2025 Opening Ceremony' was held at the Yeoui-dong main branch new building, attended by Chairman Yang Jong-hee and group executives and employees to mark the Year of the Eulsa. Prior to the ceremony, KB Financial Group held a moment of mourning for the victims and families of the recent airplane accident. This year's ceremony was conducted simply, considering the social atmosphere.
Chairman Yang said, "This year is expected to be a year of chaos and upheaval more unpredictable than ever," adding, "With increasing internal and external instability and various conflicts within our society, it is difficult to foresee even a step ahead."
He continued, "In such circumstances, KB must demonstrate 'solid trust and stability' to offset the anxiety of customers and the market," and emphasized, "No matter the environmental changes, KB must show the belief that it can consistently deliver value to customers and the market."
To this end, Chairman Yang reiterated his commitment to steadfastly implementing the value-up plan. He said, "Through the value-up plan announced last year, we detailed our plans to enhance corporate value," adding, "We will unwaveringly carry out activities that contribute to shareholder returns, capital ratio management, improvement of Risk-Weighted Asset Return (RoRWA), and social development, ensuring these efforts lead to enhanced customer value."
He also stated, "We will continue the 'warm partnership' that allows everyone to grow together." Chairman Yang said, "Sustainable growth is difficult to achieve alone," and emphasized, "Companies from different industries, big tech, and platform companies are not our competitors but partners."
Chairman Yang explained, "Rather than competing solely with our own products and services, combining with other companies' platforms and services greatly increases impact and success potential, leading to greater achievements," and urged, "Based on these achievements, we must continue to play a supportive role for neighbors and society by creating impactful social values such as care projects and support for small business owners."
Furthermore, Chairman Yang stressed, "To return higher value to shareholders, the market, customers, and society, KB must strengthen its capabilities through 'efficiency and innovation.'"
He said, "We need to examine whether capital is being efficiently allocated to all the businesses we pursue," adding, "Unlike in the past, everything now must be proven with accurate data and performance."
To this end, Chairman Yang announced that the headquarters organization was streamlined last December. He said, "We integrated the DT and AI organizations and reorganized the 'global management system' to operate with the same precision and efficiency domestically and globally."
He continued, "Having streamlined the organization to quickly respond to the changed environment, it is now time to lead 'innovation' as an industry standard," emphasizing, "Each employee must become the 'channel that meets customers' itself."
Chairman Yang revealed, "For this purpose, the recent organizational restructuring assigned the mission of 'face-to-face channel innovation' to the bank's strategy headquarters."
Finally, Chairman Yang said, "All of the above can only be accomplished together with the employees," and added, "This year, we will also put great effort into 'health management' for our executives and employees more than ever."
He concluded the New Year's address by saying, "The company will actively care for the physical and mental health of employees, and the healthy and positive energy created by each of you in your respective positions will bring warmth and comfort to customers and society. Let us build a KB that provides unwavering value."
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